The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-05-05
A UNIQUE ASSOCIATION.
The shut-In society-Its Organizatfo
and it's Work.

The shut.In society-Its Organization
and it's Work.
There is society the majority Of
whose members never leave their own
rooms. With over fifteen hundred
members scattered over twenty states.
its executive work is done by honorary
members, and votes on important
questions are taken by postal card.
The reason is expressed in the associa-
tons name-"The Shut-In Society,""
About ten years ago. after she had
been an invalid for three years, Mrs.
Nathaniel Conkling, of Convent N. j..
conceived the idea which led to the
formation of this novel society. She
had grown used to her suffering, but
felt alone among the members of her
family. who were all strong and well.
She longed to have a companion with
whom she could sympathize. whose
weakness she might try to aid, and who
would in turn render the same kind Of
fees to her. Through newspaper
paragraph she learned of a young lady
who was similarly situated. These
were written to, and so the idea spread
until over fifteen hundred members are
enrolled. For several years there was
no organization or any thought of it,
but in. 1882 the number corresponding
had become so large that it was DEEM
ed expedicnt to infuse some degree of
regularity in the administration of the
society's affairs, which had become an
oppressive burden on Mrs. Helen M.
Brown, the editor of The Advocate and
Guardian. who had them in charge.
Assistance was rendered her by Mrs.
Kate Sumner Burr, of Walworth, N.
Y. who started paper, called The
Shut-In Nsitor. in January, 1888, and
greatly aided in the management of the
society. In December, 1884, it was final
ly decided to organize. and meeti-
ing was held in this city, which
was attended mostly by honorary
members. Mrs. Conkling was elected
presi dent, At this meeting it was de-
cided to issue an official organ, The
Shut-In Visitor now occupying that
position. In Janury, 1885, a neat
monthly journal, bearing the singularly
appropriate name of The Open VIM
don, was issued. It contains letters
from members, articles on matters of
interest to them and the announce
ment of the services of the weekly
prayer-meeting, besides other matters.
The prayer-meeting, if such a mis-
homer may be allowed, is without
doubt unique. A thousand or SO of
people, each separated from the others,
perhaps by scores of miles. at the same
hour every Tuesday morning read the
same chapters from the bible, make
the same prayer. and learn the same
scripture lesson. This is the Tuesday
morning programme of every "shut in"
be he or she high or low.
The name of the society was sug-
gested by line from the sixteenth
verse of the seventh chapter of Genesis.
''And the Lord shut him in," which
Mrs. Conkting found one day while
reading her bible, long before she
thought Of the society. Its mean
ing came TO her almost as rev.
citation, and she regarded herself
thenceforth as one shut in by God.
The object of the Shut-In society is
to relieve the tedium of the sick-room
by sending and receiving letters and
other tokens of remembrance, the
stimulation of faith, hope and cour-
age, and the holding of concerted
prayer at certain hours.
1t is not BENEFICIARY OF benevolent
organization, and has never been such.
Its business is rath er with the spiritual
and mental condition of its members
than with temporal needs. -New York
Commercial advertiser.